Bergwijn and En-Nesyri give Jens Vissing’s Al-Ittihad a flying start against Al-Faisaly

Jens Vissing’s attacking ideas appeared to pay immediate dividends as Al-Ittihad took a 2-0 half-time lead against Al-Faisaly in the seventh round of the Roshn Saudi League.

The German coach’s decision to use his attacking players in different ways created a clear threat, with Al-Ittihad finding two different routes to goal during Friday evening’s meeting.

Steven Bergwijn opened the scoring in the 28th minute with Al-Ittihad’s first shot on target. The Netherlands international collected the ball outside the penalty area before sending a superb strike beyond the reach of the Al-Faisaly goalkeeper.

The visitors continued to press in search of a second goal and were rewarded two minutes before the interval. Nigeria international George Ilenikhena delivered an excellent pass into the area, where Morocco striker Youssef En-Nesyri arrived to finish and double Al-Ittihad’s advantage in the 43rd minute.

The two goals highlighted the variety Vissing is seeking to establish in Al-Ittihad’s forward play. The side threatened from distance through Bergwijn, while the second goal came from movement and combination play inside the attacking third.

Bergwijn’s goal also underlined the value of giving him the freedom and space to operate around the edge of the penalty area. His ability to take on the shot from outside the box provided Al-Ittihad with a direct attacking option rather than requiring the team to work the ball into the area.

The second strike offered a different example of the team’s developing approach. En-Nesyri’s movement created an opening inside the penalty area, while his understanding with Ilenikhena allowed Al-Ittihad to exploit space through a well-timed pass.

That flexibility gives Vissing another attacking weapon during matches. Al-Ittihad have players capable of operating in more than one position and changing the shape of their attack, making them more difficult for opponents to contain.

The contrast between Bergwijn’s long-range finish and En-Nesyri’s close-range effort suggested that Vissing’s new ideas are beginning to develop from tactical experiments into practical solutions. Al-Ittihad went into half-time two goals ahead, with their attacking options having already made the difference against Al-Faisaly.